TRADITIONAL CULTURE - JapanUp! magazine

FOOD LEARNJAPAN MONTHLY POPULAR TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Shochu 101: From Classic Sips to Modern Cocktails

yuka 10/30/2025

What is Shochu? Shochu is a spirit that features a variety of traditional ingredients drawn from Japan’s long history, offering a wide range of appealing aromas and flavors. There are two main types of Shochu: authentic Honkaku Shochu (single-distilled) and the more neutral-tasting Korui Shochu (multiple-distilled). Honkaku Shochu is crafted from a diverse array of raw, flavorful ingredients. Its alcohol by volume (ABV) typically ranges from 20% to 30%, which is lower than that of many other spirits worldwide. However, the aromas produced by different ingredients and distillation methods give Honkaku Shochu a truly memorable character. Let’s explore some of…

LEARNJAPAN POPULAR TRADITIONAL CULTURE

OMOTENASHI: “Japanese New Year Decorations and Their Origins”

miwako3 01/01/2025

Japanese New Year Decorations and Their Origins In Japan, New Year’s Day (January 1st) is the most important holiday of the year. Similar to Thanksgiving in the United States, families gather to celebrate the start of a new year. As part of these celebrations, special seasonal decorations are prepared. These include shimenawa (sacred ropes made of braided straw), kadomatsu (decorations made of pine and bamboo), and kagami mochi (decorative rice cakes). Each of these has a significant meaning and role, but in this article, we will focus on shimenawa. In Japan, many people follow Shinto (one of Japan’s two main…

LEARNJAPAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival

japanup_akane 07/21/2023

This 500-year-old festival was the favorite festival of samurai and Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese daimyō, of the Sengoku period.

LEARNJAPAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE

History of Gion Matsuri

japanup_akane 07/05/2023

The birth of Gion matsuri dates back to 869, when the plague decimated a large part of the population.

LEARNJAPAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE

If You Like Nikuman Buns, You’ll Love Nagano’s Oyaki

japanup_akane 03/27/2023

Whenever I arrive in Japan, for my first meal do I go to a fancy sushi joint? A Michelin 3-star restaurant? An izakaya? Nope.

LEARNJAPAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE

The Mountain Pirate Chicken Pun

japanup_akane 03/14/2023

If you’ve ever been to Nagano Prefecture in the Japanese Alps, you’ve probably had a chance to eat one of the local specialties, a type of fried chicken called sanzoku-yaki (山賊焼き) which is usually rendered into English as “Mountain pirate (or bandit) chicken.”